Prep Genrl Weekly Prep Thread: October 27 ~ November 2, 2019

[SouthernBreeze]

Yesterday two boxes from Amazon arrived, both with canned goods. One box was okay but the canned chicken in it was wrapped in a case so damage would have been difficult, although there was a small bottle of tea tree oil that had half leaked out. The other box had no packing either but the cans were loose and half of them were dented. CS initially said I would have to return the damaged cans and I said that was rediculous (sp) that I have prime, she put me on hold and came back and said they would refund the entire order but would not replace them, that I could reorder. They are replacing the tee tree oil. I did tell her that these boxes must have been packed by the robots.

This combined with all the problems I've had with deliveries from Walmart that part of the time never show up I'm considering not online ordering canned goods. Its so convinent (sp) when the orders come intact, but frustrating when half the order is damaged.

Judy

I've never had anything ordered online from Walmart that was damaged, including Keystone meats. Like you, though, I'm hesitant about ordering things online for that reason. There's so much more online at Walmart than in the stores, so I have to order things from them, and take my chances. Cary orders things for himself, like books, DVD's, etc. all the time.

 

[Marseydoats]

I thought that Spam was pretty indestructible, but I swear the Fed Ex driver backed over one of my boxes. I had smashed cans and loose Spam hanging out of the box. Was amazed that the coyotes didn't take off with it. They initially told me I had to return all the cans too, then told me to just send them a photo. The first 2 times I ordered a case of juice it got here with no problems, the next 2 they evidently demolished the boxes and sent them back. I just got a refund and I gave up ordering beverages of any kind.

 

[nomifyle]

I thought that Spam was pretty indestructible, but I swear the Fed Ex driver backed over one of my boxes. I had smashed cans and loose Spam hanging out of the box. Was amazed that the coyotes didn't take off with it. They initially told me I had to return all the cans too, then told me to just send them a photo. The first 2 times I ordered a case of juice it got here with no problems, the next 2 they evidently demolished the boxes and sent them back. I just got a refund and I gave up ordering beverages of any kind.

Fedx is the worst lately, UPS does a much better job. I think what I got in bad shape from Amazon was Amazon's poor packaging.

Judy

 

[nomifyle]

For the last several years I've wanted a Rocket stove, but I just never could get it together to build one and I've put off buying one. I bit the bullet and ordered and Ecozoom Zoom Versa and I ordered it from eartheasy.com. Their price was less than amazon and so I went for it. It came yesterday and packaged amazingly well. No damaged box and I'm not sure who the shipper was, probably fedex because it didn't say ups.

DH said we can use it on our screened in porch (aluminum screen, not plastic), which means I can use it when it rains. Although we have a boat shed that is covered. Now to get DH to understand the size of wood to be used. This could easily be used with my Wonderbag. Get the food good and hot, put it in the wonderbag and bring it in the house to complete the cooking.

Judy

Judy

 

[Freeholder]

For the last several years I've wanted a Rocket stove, but I just never could get it together to build one and I've put off buying one. I bit the bullet and ordered and Ecozoom Zoom Versa and I ordered it from eartheasy.com. Their price was less than amazon and so I went for it. It came yesterday and packaged amazingly well. No damaged box and I'm not sure who the shipper was, probably fedex because it didn't say ups.

DH said we can use it on our screened in porch (aluminum screen, not plastic), which means I can use it when it rains. Although we have a boat shed that is covered. Now to get DH to understand the size of wood to be used. This could easily be used with my Wonderbag. Get the food good and hot, put it in the wonderbag and bring it in the house to complete the cooking.

Judy

Judy

Yeah, all you need for a small rocket stove is dry twigs! I've got a different one (the kind made out of heavy black steel square tubing -- I wanted sturdy for camping), and it does a great job. They are easy enough to make with just a few cement blocks or bricks, though you wouldn't want to use those on a wood floor. (Mine won't work on a wood floor, either, as it gets too hot, but I could make a hearth for it.) If you are going to use yours in your screened in porch, you should keep an eye on how hot the bottom of the stove gets the first few times you use it -- you may need to make a brick or stone platform for it.

Kathleen

 

[Illini Warrior]

just saw a local guy offering the square tube weld-up rocket stoves for around $100 - looked like he was starting up a weld shop side biz >>> sample looked decent - good $$$ considering the materials & labor involved ....

 

[Freeholder]

just saw a local guy offering the square tube weld-up rocket stoves for around $100 - looked like he was starting up a weld shop side biz >>> sample looked decent - good $$$ considering the materials & labor involved ....

I think that's around what I paid for mine, but I got it off Amazon. Going with a local guy would be better.

Kathleen

 

[nomifyle]

Yeah, all you need for a small rocket stove is dry twigs! I've got a different one (the kind made out of heavy black steel square tubing -- I wanted sturdy for camping), and it does a great job. They are easy enough to make with just a few cement blocks or bricks, though you wouldn't want to use those on a wood floor. (Mine won't work on a wood floor, either, as it gets too hot, but I could make a hearth for it.) If you are going to use yours in your screened in porch, you should keep an eye on how hot the bottom of the stove gets the first few times you use it -- you may need to make a brick or stone platform for it.

Kathleen

Goodness, I wouldn't put it on a wood floor. He cut a burn barrel in half and we are going to put it on that, although he will use some kind of burn proof something or another on top of the burn barrel.

He hauled a trailer full of branches to the house from where he is cutting wood for the wood stove for me to cut up for the rocket stove and store in a trash can with a lid.

Kathleen, have you used your rocket stove for much, I'm curious how well it works, although I've seen many videos about it.

Judy

 

[Freeholder]

Goodness, I wouldn't put it on a wood floor. He cut a burn barrel in half and we are going to put it on that, although he will use some kind of burn proof something or another on top of the burn barrel.

He hauled a trailer full of branches to the house from where he is cutting wood for the wood stove for me to cut up for the rocket stove and store in a trash can with a lid.

Kathleen, have you used your rocket stove for much, I'm curious how well it works, although I've seen many videos about it.

Judy

The half of a barrel sounds like a really good idea! It will get the little stove up to a more comfortable height, too. I can sit mine on my BBQ grill to get a good working height (but it's outdoors, not under a roof).

Storing wood in a trash can is a great idea, too.

I've used mine while camping. It works very well. The only caveat is that (with mine) if you have a lot of cooking to do, after a while it gets too much ash built up inside, and you have to stop cooking for a few minutes, and use hotpads to tip the stove and dump the ash out, then restart the fire. It could use an ash grate, but that would undoubtedly add quite a bit to the cost.

This is pretty close to the rocket stove I've got (mine doesn't have the handle): https://www.amazon.com/Simond-Store...tove&qid=1572659183&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-156

This one looks like it's got a better way to deal with the ashes: https://www.amazon.com/Sunny-Home-B...qid=1572659183&s=sporting-goods&sr=1-163&th=1

I've also got tin cans to make a small free rocket stove. It would be much lighter than the heavy steel one I bought, but wouldn't last as long.

Kathleen

 

[Marseydoats]

I have sworn that I would never go to Walmart on a Saturday again, but I didn't have any choice. The store was mobbed, full of Christmas decorations. All of the Halloween candy was wiped out, I had hoped to get a couple bags on clearance but I was too late. They were out of a lot of things and had moved others out of their normal places on the shelves. I thought they were out of juice but I finally found 4 bottles, which was all they had. The cat food aisle was wiped out and they didn't have any of the cheaper litter that I use.
My store only has 3 or 4 packs of the Walmart brand paper towels anymore, and I don't like those because they won't fit into my stacks.
I was glad to get out of the madhouse and get home.

 

[Freeholder]

Four men from church came this morning to tear paneling down in my house, in preparation for the electrical work. They all thought the electrician's bid was high, and one of the men said he knew two guys who do electrical work and he would send them out to give me bids. One came this afternoon, and gave me a bid of about $5,000 -- way less than the $10,000 to $12,000 the first guy had said.

And my sister in Wyoming is going to bring me a bunch of old children's books for me to read aloud to Juniper when they come around the end of January. So that's my 'prepping' for today, LOL! Oh, and yesterday, some people came and got one of the kittens I was raising. Hope we can find homes for at least two of the four that are left.

Kathleen

 

[Illini Warrior]

Four men from church came this morning to tear paneling down in my house, in preparation for the electrical work. They all thought the electrician's bid was high, and one of the men said he knew two guys who do electrical work and he would send them out to give me bids. One came this afternoon, and gave me a bid of about $5,000 -- way less than the $10,000 to $12,000 the first guy had said.

And my sister in Wyoming is going to bring me a bunch of old children's books for me to read aloud to Juniper when they come around the end of January. So that's my 'prepping' for today, LOL! Oh, and yesterday, some people came and got one of the kittens I was raising. Hope we can find homes for at least two of the four that are left.

Kathleen

for $5K you better be getting a new circuit box and a new total lead in mast & meter box >>> $5K is still alot for electric re-work ...

 

[SouthernBreeze]

for $5K you better be getting a new circuit box and a new total lead in mast & meter box >>> $5K is still alot for electric re-work ...

We had all of that done when we had our 1000 sq ft house rewired. We also had more electrical outlets added in each room. Cost...$3000. It was professionally done, and we didn't have to purchase any of the supplies.

 

[Freeholder]

for $5K you better be getting a new circuit box and a new total lead in mast & meter box >>> $5K is still alot for electric re-work ...

Yes, it includes a new entrance and box. I got the old sheetrock down from one wall this morning (where the men took the paneling down yesterday). Taking it down is easy. What hurts is picking it up off the floor! I need to clean that mess up before I tear any more down.

Kathleen